Digital eye strain: 4 ways to fight it

It's a fact of life — we're basically tied to our computer screens. Or smartphone screens. Or tablet screens. That's a lot of screens.

A lot of screens can result in digital eye strain — headaches, blurred vision, neck pain — fortunately, there are a few ways to avoid it. Here are four.

First, take breaks. The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, look up for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away. It gives your eye muscles a quick chance to relax.

Second, make your font bigger. If you find yourself squinting with your nose an inch from the screen, that's your cue to increase the point size so you can more easily read what's on your computer.

Third, match the luminosity of the screen to the luminosity of the room. That means if you're in a dimly lit room, turn down the brightness of your device so it's less harsh on your eyes.

And fourth, don't forget to blink. It sounds obvious, but ask yourself, have you blinked since this video started? If not, do it now. We often forget when we're looking intently at something, but eyes need the lubrication that comes with blinking.